Memorial Blood Centers Ready To Help East Coast After Hurricane Sandy

ST. PAUL, Minn., Oct. 30, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Memorial Blood Centers, among Minnesota's oldest and largest nonprofit community blood centers, is carefully monitoring the impact of Hurricane Sandy on regional and national blood supplies and is prepared to help blood centers on the East Coast in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

The blood inventory levels at Memorial Blood Centers are stable and we continue to serve our communities with the blood products patients need. At this time, Memorial Blood Centers is providing additional units to affiliated blood centers in Upstate New York, and we are able to provide additional blood when called upon by our sister organizations.

"We continuously plan and are prepared to respond to local, regional, national and international emergencies," said Don Berglund, CEO of Memorial Blood Centers, "We are very concerned about those impacted by the hurricane. We are in constant contact with blood centers on the East Coast and are ready to support them in any way we can."

All Memorial Blood Centers donation centers and mobile drives are operating on a normal schedule. Those wishing to make a blood donation should call 1-888-GIVE-BLD (1-888-448-3253) or visit our website at www.MBC.org to schedule an appointment. Donors scheduled for a blood donation are encouraged to keep their scheduled appointments.

Donors with type O-, A-, and B- blood are especially needed for whole blood donations. Platelet and plasma donations are also needed.

About Memorial Blood Centers Memorial Blood Centers has been saving lives for over 60 years as an independent nonprofit supplying life-saving blood to area hospitals and other partners throughout the U.S. Operating 11 donor centers and conducting hundreds of blood drives each month, Memorial Blood Centers also provides comprehensive testing and expert technical services as a national leader in transfusion medicine. For more information, call 1-888-GIVE-BLD or visit MBC.org.